Joanne Kelsey
Special Advisor
Joanne Kelsey serves as a Special Advisor to Strategy for Humanity. She has extensive experience collaborating with government officials, NGOs, and Congress and is recognized for her exceptional expertise and work to improve the lives of refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants, including those living in the United States. In addition, Joanne is one of the nation's leading experts on issues affecting stateless individuals.
Prior to joining Strategy for Humanity, Joanne directed advocacy and policy at Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), a faith-based organization serving refugees, immigrants and vulnerable children. During her tenure at LIRS, she worked across coalitions to bring about an increase in refugee admissions to the United States, oppose anti-refugee legislation at the Federal and state level, raise awareness of the practice of family detention and expand protections for children fleeing Central America.
As a Protection officer at the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Joanne’s work centered on immigration detention and statelessness. She was recognized by the Department of Homeland Security for her leadership and collaboration in monitoring and improving detention conditions and expanding release policies for asylum-seekers and other vulnerable populations in detention. She spearheaded a successful campaign to raise awareness and increase protections for stateless individuals in the United States which resulted in policy improvements, the introduction of vital legislation and the video “Statelessness in the United States: Searching for Citizenship.”
As a Director at the Women’s Refugee Commission, Joanne worked to increase protections for women and children seeking asylum in the United States and led a collaboration with Department of Justice officials, child experts and members of the film industry to create “What Happens When I Go to Immigration Court,” an informational video for immigrant children with an overview of the immigration process and possible forms of immigration relief for which they may be eligible.
Joanne began her career in immigration law and policy as an attorney at the Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review. As a fellow for Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), Joanne gained experience working with congressional leaders on immigration issues.
Joanne has contributed to numerous publications including “Locking up Family Values, Again” and “Citizens of No Where.”
With Strategy for Humanity, her clients have included the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, HIAS, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, Refugee Council USA, and Save the Children.
Prior to joining Strategy for Humanity, Joanne directed advocacy and policy at Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), a faith-based organization serving refugees, immigrants and vulnerable children. During her tenure at LIRS, she worked across coalitions to bring about an increase in refugee admissions to the United States, oppose anti-refugee legislation at the Federal and state level, raise awareness of the practice of family detention and expand protections for children fleeing Central America.
As a Protection officer at the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Joanne’s work centered on immigration detention and statelessness. She was recognized by the Department of Homeland Security for her leadership and collaboration in monitoring and improving detention conditions and expanding release policies for asylum-seekers and other vulnerable populations in detention. She spearheaded a successful campaign to raise awareness and increase protections for stateless individuals in the United States which resulted in policy improvements, the introduction of vital legislation and the video “Statelessness in the United States: Searching for Citizenship.”
As a Director at the Women’s Refugee Commission, Joanne worked to increase protections for women and children seeking asylum in the United States and led a collaboration with Department of Justice officials, child experts and members of the film industry to create “What Happens When I Go to Immigration Court,” an informational video for immigrant children with an overview of the immigration process and possible forms of immigration relief for which they may be eligible.
Joanne began her career in immigration law and policy as an attorney at the Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review. As a fellow for Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), Joanne gained experience working with congressional leaders on immigration issues.
Joanne has contributed to numerous publications including “Locking up Family Values, Again” and “Citizens of No Where.”
With Strategy for Humanity, her clients have included the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, HIAS, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, Refugee Council USA, and Save the Children.
